‘A Carpet of Purple Flowers’ by Tracey-anne McCartney

Epic fantasy, coming-of-age, romantic drama and mythology: this book is a finely woven carpet of great fiction.Bea, owner of a little bookshop, is drawn into the war between two paranormal factions. Kari, a royal on one side, thinks Bea’s harbouring the soul of his long-lost love, Alithea, and sets out to re-win her heart. Chance, a warrior for the other, thinks he’s protecting Bea, but endangers her through his own actions. As Bea gets pulled in different directions, and starts to uncover histories and recover memories, she realises she alone holds the key to this war…From the blurb, I expected a kind of ‘Twilight for adults’. What I got was intricately-imagined fantasy, suspenseful action, two beautifully interwoven love stories (not the kind of paranormal love triangle I was anticipating), and a lot of well-crafted drama. Brilliant – I want more!

Source: ‘A Carpet of Purple Flowers’ by Tracey-anne McCartney

Dark Fey: Standing in Shadows

Dark Fey: Standing In Shadows is Book Two of the Dark Fey Trilogy.Book one, Dark Fey: The Reviled began the journey, introducing us to the Mystical Realm of Jyndari, the home of the Fey of the Light, winged beings with extraordinary gifts and abilities who live harmoniously in a close knit community where art and music, scholarly devotion to the ancient texts, and faithful adherence to tradition are all sacred. In Jyndari we meet a young Fey of the Light, Ayla who was discovered at a very young age to have the especially rare combination of gifts: empathic telepathy as well as discernment and healing. She was dedicated to become a Guardian of Childfey and spent her entire young years in the seclusion of the Temple where she studied magic and the ancient rites; where she was taught about the mortal enemy of all Fey of the Light, The Reviled.We also meet Gairynzvl, a Reviled Fey who comes in shadows and silence; who lingers near Ayla trying to communicate with her. He longs for freedom from his Captivity among the Dark Fey, but he needs her help to escape them. Through her extraordinary gifts she listens to him when no others will; she touches his pain and eases his suffering and she helps him in his attempt to escape The Reviled.Known also as The Cursed, the Dark Ones or The Reviled Fey cannot love, are unable to abide peace or harmony, and do not admire beauty or talent without avarice. Because of their cursed state, they also cannot bring life into the world in the form of Innocence. In order to reproduce themselves they come to Jyndari in the shadows and abduct childfey, returning them to their own dark realm, the Uunglarda, where they are forced to endure The Integration. The intentionally cruel process of neglect, abuse and deprivation is designed to turn childfey from the Light and twist them into monsters.In Dark Fey: Standing in Shadows we discover more about Gairynzvl and why he wants to return into the dark realm of The Reviled. He longs to attempt a rescue of the innocent childfey trapped there!But it will take more than one fey to breach the borders of The Uunglarda and to slip past the legions of Dark Fey who abide there. It will take magic and strength, courage and military strategy and it will shake the foundations of everything The Fey of The Light have accepted as truth for thousands of years. Nevertheless, Gairynzvl knows the secret ways in and out of the dark realm; he is able to open portals and through his gifts of telepathic empathy, he can find the childfey standing, waiting, in the shadows.Slipping into the darkness through darkness is easy. Escaping out again with squalling, terrified childfey is another matter, but if they are captured his band of Liberators will pray for death long before it comes. Worse, their success could spark full scale war and unleash the barbaric hatred and viciousness of The Reviled upon the peace-loving Fey of The Light.Can Gairynzvl convince Ayla and The Temple Elders to allow him to return to the Uunglarda, the realm of The Reviled? Who will join him to aid these Innocent Childfey, trapped in the realm of shadows and fear? And Will the Fey of the Light risk a savage war in order to rescue them?Dark Fey: Standing in Shadows coming in December 2015!!

Source: Dark Fey: Standing in Shadows

Reviewing: it’s good for everyone

Reviews should always be constructive (because, if nothing else, this is someone’s baby you’re talking/blogging/writing about), but that doesn’t mean they should all be glowing. Because, when you do get your teeth into that wonderful book, the one that you’ll forgo food, drink and outside life for, you need to be able to shout about it above the din. And people need to be able to hear it (which is why I only share the reviews of books I’ve thoroughly enjoyed on this blog).So, if you don’t already, do take 5 minutes when you finish your current read and let the author know (through Goodreads or Amazon etc) what you thought about the plot, the characters, the writing, the pace, the style, or the feelings it evokes in you. Because it’s not just the author you’re benefiting, but other readers too. Readers just like you.

Source: Reviewing: it’s good for everyone

On ‘poor’ book reviews and writing/taking them constructively

As a reader, I enjoy writing reviews. I love to shout about books I’ve loved or thoroughly enjoyed, and genuinely feel trepidation when I have to write an average or poor review because, as a writer myself, I know how much criticism can hurt. Therefore, I aim (as all reviewers should) to be polite, pick out the good parts as well as the areas that did not work for me, and, above all, be constructive. Trolling or rudeness is unhelpful to writers and readers alike. But even poor reviews are helpful, and here’s why:

Source: On ‘poor’ book reviews and writing/taking them constructively

Guest Post by Tracey-anne McCartney

Only 2 days left!

Competition

Matthew Smith is giving away 5 copies of ‘A Carpet of Purple Flowers’. To enter just leave a comment on the blog link below telling Sonya what you think of the cover.

This competition is open worldwide.

The closing date is 11:59 p.m. on the 14th November 2015.

The winners will be randomly chosen and notified within 7 days of the closing date. Their details will be given to Matthew Smith who will send out the prizes.

https://aloverofbooks.wordpress.com/2015/11/01/guest-post-by-tracey-anne-mccartney

A Lover of Books

Author

This is the last post of this event.  Tracey-anne McCartney has recently had her debut novel, ‘A Carpet of Purple Flowers’ published.

The ramblings of a debut author

~ Slipping through the veil of worlds on All Hallows Eve/Samhain

Merry meet at the time of year when the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest.

The old year has passed and sunset on Samhain marks the beginning of the Celtic New Year. So what better time to introduce my very own new beginning ~ A Carpet of Purple Flowers.

I believe that a certain magic is carried from our soul through to our creations – be it a piece of art, dance, poetry or form of storytelling, etc. With this belief in mind, I hope that I can spread a little magic your way.

Writing ~

My mind raced as folklore came entwined with love, fate…

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Guest Post by Tracey-anne McCartney

Competition

Only 2 days left!

Matthew Smith is giving away 5 copies of ‘A Carpet of Purple Flowers’. To enter just leave a comment on the blog link below telling Sonya what you think of the cover.

This competition is open worldwide.

The closing date is 11:59 p.m. on the 14th November 2015.

The winners will be randomly chosen and notified within 7 days of the closing date. Their details will be given to Matthew Smith who will send out the prizes.

Guest Post by Tracey-anne McCartney

Source: Guest Post by Tracey-anne McCartney